Music-leaf turner.



PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904.

J. W. TAYLOR.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

mu m Q3 Lin mo a UNITED STATES Patented March 1 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,758, dated March 1, 1904.

Application filed July 16,1903. Serial No. 165,821. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. TAYLOR, a citi zen of the United States, residing at I/Vinchester, in the county of Scott and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Music Leaf Turner, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in musicleaf turners, and relates to devices of this-kind which can be attached to a piano as well as to an ordinary music-stand.

In the usual form of leaf-turner a downward pull is exerted, in many cases by footpressure, and this often results in throwing the music from the rack instead of simply turning a leaf. It is also obviously inconvenient to employ a leaf-turner operated by the foot in connection with piano-music, as such devices require cords or levers extending down to the foot-treadle, and these cords or levers cannot well be passed down over the piano-keyboard.

The object of my invention is to provide a leaf-turner which can be used by violin and cornet players as well as pianists and which is turned by an upward stroke instead of a downward pull.

My invention consists of the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View showing my leaf-turner in use. Fig. 2 is a face view of the base-plate and parts mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of construction, showing the manner of connecting the actuating-rod with the tubular rod. Fig. 6 is a detail view in elevation showing the manner of holding a single sheet.

In constructing my leaf-turner I employ a base comprised of two parallel plates A and A, connected by coiled springs A the upper face-plate A sliding on guide-posts A", carried by the lower plate A, the springs encircling the posts, which are preferably four in numher and arranged adjacent the corners of the plate. Brackets B are secured adjacent opposite edges of the plate A, and in these brackets are journaled the ends of a pintle B. Lying parallel with the shaft and hinged to it are a plurality of turning-arms C, the arms lying one above the other. Intermediate the hinges a plurality of springs C are bent around the pintle, being fastened at one end to the pintle, and the opposite end of each spring is secured to one of the turning-arms C. Projecting laterally from each turningarm is a short arm C terminating in an oval thumb-piece C I/Vorking in guide-staples beneath the lowest arm (1 and transverse to same is a rod D. Around the upper end of the rod is a spring D,bearing at one end against one of the guidestaples D and at the outer end on the rod D. Rigidly secured to the rod and extending outwardly from same is a hook member D having a projecting nose at its outer end. A hook member D is pivoted to the rod D and has a nose at its free end turned to ward the nose of the member D" but in a higher plane. A spring D normally holds the member D" parallel to the member D and at a right angle to the rod D, movement of the member D being limited by a lug or projection D carried by the member and bearing on the rod D. The nose of the member D is beveled on the side adjacent the arms C and when these arms are thrown downward they will engage the beveled face of the nose, and as the member D' is pivoted it will be forced backward or upward, allowing the arms to pass into posi: tion below the nose, the spring D returning the member D to its normal position. hook members are so spaced apart that when the nose of the member D is in engagement with the uppermost one of the short arms C the nose of the member D is out of engagement with the arms 0 and the members D D are normally held in this position by the spring D.

Sliding on the lower end of the rod D is a tubular rod D, secured on the rod D by a setscrew D Aplate D padded on its under side, is carried by the lower end of the rod D the plate D being in a plane above but parallel with the keyboard of the piano.

To the upper end of each of the arms C is These pivoted a leaf-turner C. Adjustably secured to each leaf-turner C" are arms C adapted to rest transversely across the page of music. Intermediate the arms C are short stub-arms G, adapted to rest on the marginal portions of a leaf, thereby enabling the device to hold and turn a single one-sheet piece printed on both sides.

To enable the device to be used with books of varying thickness, a rod E is journaled in suitable brackets on the plate A and carries cams E, bearing on the under side of the upper plate, and at the outer end of the rod E is a knob E, by which it can be readily rotated. The cams space the two plates apart, and by rotating the rod and cams the distance between the two plates can be regulated according to the thickness of the book with which it is used.

In use the turning-arms U are placed between the leaves, and when a leaf is to be turned the padded under side of the plate D is struck upward by the back of the hand, tip of a horn, or in any convenient manner forcing the rod D upward. Except when the arms are being turned down into position the member D" is held by the spring D parallel to the member D and upward movement of the rod D moves the member D away from the arm G with which it has been in engagement, and the spring C turns the arm and leaf, the member D locking and holding down the arm C immediately below the arm C released by the member D. The spring D then returns the various parts to their normal position. By means of the thumb-pieces C the leaves can be turned from left to right. hen a single sheet of music is used, or what may be termed a half-sheet, the stub-arms C engage the left-hand margin of the sheet, while the arms C lie under and turn the sheet.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the kind described comprising a base, a pintle thereon, spring-actuated parallel arms hinged to the pintle and lying normally in vertical alinement with each other, a short arm extending laterally from each of the hinged arms, and a rod sliding on the base and having hook members alternately engaging and releasing the short arms.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a base, hinged spring-actuated arms lying in vertical alinement above said base, short arms extending laterally from said hinged arms, a rod sliding on the base beneath and transverse to the short arms, a hook member on said rod adapted to alternately engage and release the uppermost of said short arms, and a hook member on said rod adapted to engage the arm immediately below the one released by the first-mentioned hook member.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a suitable, base, a pintle thereon, a plurality oi arms hinged. to said pintle, a plurality of springs each spring being connected at one end to the pintle and at the opposite end to one of said arms, a leaf-turning arm pivoted to each of the hinged arms, slidably-adjustable arms carried by and at right angles to the pivoted arms, stub-arms carried by the pivoted arms, a slidable rod having hook members adapted to hold the hinged arms down, and means whereby each upward movement of the rod releases one of the hinged arms.

4. A device of the kind described comprising two parallel base-plates, guide-rods carried. by one oi said plates, the other plate sliding on said rods, springs connecting the plates, a rotatable rod journaled between the plates, cams carried by the rod adapted to space the plates apart, and leaf-turning arms carried by the sliding plate.

JOHN XV. TAYLOR. itnesses:

E. N. G'ILTJIAM, Geo. \V. HOGAN. 

